GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM

Today's reading recounts the familiar account of Peter's vision telling him to go with some men to Cornelius' house. This man was a Gentile, and Jews despised Gentiles. When Peter arrived and heard how God had told Cornelius to call him, Acts 10:34-35 (NET) reports, Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does what is right is welcomed before Him...” After Peter shared with Cornelius and his household about the Lord, they believed and received the Holy Spirit in a similar way to how the Jewish disciples received the Holy Spirit a short time before.

This was tremendous news at that time, because God was confirming to the apostles that His salvation was for everyone, not just Jews. That includes rich and poor, educated and uneducated, powerful and weak, people from all nations and walks of life since that time. In John's vision regarding the end times in Rev. 7:9-10 (NET), he said, After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. They were shouting out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Thank you Lord for providing this amazing gift of salvation to anyone who believes in You.